There are lots of ways to say that you like or dislike something in English, and ‘I like it’ and ‘I don’t like it’ don’t always tell us exactly how we feel. Let’s look at some useful expressions that can help you describe your preferences more precisely – from mild preference to very strong feelings. If you are fond of something, you like it, often because you have enjoyed it for a long time or have a warm feeling towards it: ‘I’ve always been fond of old houses.’ If you have a soft spot for something, you have a particular affection for it, even if there isn’t an obvious reason: ‘I’ve always had a soft spot for romantic comedies.’ If you are into something, you like it and are interested in it. This informal expression is often used for hobbies, music, fashion, and other interests: ‘I’m really into photography at the moment.’ You can also say you are crazy about something when you like it very much: ‘She’s absolutely crazy about jazz.’ At the other end of the scale, if you loathe something, you dislike it very strongly: ‘I absolutely loathe getting up early.’ Similarly, detest means to dislike someone or something intensely: ‘She detests people who are rude to waiters.’ Sometimes, however, we simply want to say that something isn’t for us. If something isn’t your cup of tea, it isn’t the kind of thing you like or are interested in. This informal expression is particularly common in British English: ‘Horror films aren’t really my cup of tea.’ Finally, if something puts you off a food, activity, or experience, it makes you less interested in it or less willing to try it: ‘The bad weather put me off going for a walk.’ Which of these expressions do you use already? And what’s something you’re crazy about that other people might not be?